Ammonia-gas generator



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

L. H. BACHMANN & 0. R. SULZER.

AMMONIA GAS GENERATOR.

No. 6. ggatented Dec. 29, 1896.

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No. 573,956. Patented Dec. 29, 1896.

INVENTORS M ATTOH/V r W/T'N I UNITED STATES LOUIS HENRY BACIIMANN PATENT OFFICE.

AND OSCAR R. SULZER, OF LOUISVILLE,

KENTUCKY.

AMMONIA-GAS GENERATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 573,956, dated. December 29, 1896.

Application filed May 11,1895. Serial No. 549,005. (No model.)

the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of our generator, and Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the same. Fig. 3 is a top view of one of the series of rectifying-pans III, and Fig. 4. is a vertical sectional view of the same. Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view of the lowest rectifying-pan IV, and Fig. 6 is a top view of the same. Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional View of the regulating-valve VII, showing the float vessel VI connected to the cylindrical vessel I. Fig. 8 is a horizontal view, partly in section, of the liquor-regulator, consisting of the valve VII and the float vessel VI. Fig. 9 is a view, partly in section, of the valve-stein XXVII, its seat, and its bearing XXIX.

Fig. 10 is a top view of the valve-stein XXVII and its bearing XXIX, showing the port-.

holes XXX, through which the liquor passes.

In the different figures like numerals inclicate like parts.

I is a cylindrical vessel made in two sections and united by means of bolts passing through flanged ends. Its dome-shaped top is securedto the upper section by bolts passing through flanges, and we prefer to have the bottom formed in one piece with the lower section of the vessel, which is provided with a suitable base to rest upon, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. A recess is left between the center flanges of the vessel I for the insertionof the outward flange of the standpipe II and of gum gaskets, whereby tight joints are made. The stand-pipe II is cylindrical in shape, flanged inwardly and outwardly at bottom, and having the outer flange strengthened with angle-ribs at intervals in its circumference, as shown in Fig. 1, in order to withstand the weightof the rectifying-pans III and IV. The inner flange of the stand-pipe II supports the flanged bottom of the rectifying-pan IV, upon which is placed the series of rectifying-pans III. The pans III rest upon, legs, preferably four to each pan, and the bottoms of all the pans are perforated.

In the upper part of the stand-pipe II are the overflow elbow-openings XII, through which the strong liquor passes into the upper pan III.

V is a spiral coil of pipe through which the exhausted liquor circulates. Its upper end is connected by the elbow XIII to the pipe XI and its lower end by the elbow XIV to the outlet-pipe XXXII.

XVI and XVII are stuffing-boxes in the vessel I, through which pass the pipes XI and XXXII.

VI is a liquor-regulator vessel, and is connected to the lower section of the vessel I by the valves VIII and the circulating-pipes IX. The valves VIII, which are placed at the top and bottom of the vessel VI, and the pipes IX, which just penetrate the wall of the vessel I, allow the liquor and gases arising from it to circulate freely between the lower section of the vessel I and the regulator vessel VI.

VII is the regulator-valve, having a bevelshaped seat, as shown in Figs. 7 and 9, and is connected with the pipe XI, through which the flow of the exhausted liquor is regulated.

X is a glass gage which shows the height of the liquor in the lower section of the vessel I.

XI is the exhausted-liquor pipe and leads from the valve XXI, near the bottom of the lower section of the vessel I, to the valve VII, and from thence to the elbow XIII at the upper end of coil V through the stuffing-box XVI. The pressure in the vessel I is about one hundred and seventy-five pounds to the square inch. It is the same in the lower part The coil of steam-pipe XIX enters the lower -liquor in the pans III and IV.

section of the vessel I at XVIII through a stuffing-box (not shown) and passes out through the stuiiing-box XXII and into the steam-discharge pipe XX.

XXIII is the floating ball of the regulator vessel VI, and XXVI is its lever.

XXV is a head to close the opening in the vessel VI, through which is manipulated the set-screw XXXI of the lever XXVI.

XXIV is a head to close the opening in the vessel VI, through which the ball XXIII is placed or removed.

XXVII is the bevel-seated stem of the valve VII, having, preferably, four circular ports XXX, and it oscillates in its bearings XXIX so as to close or open the ports as the ball XXIII falls or rises, respectively, with the level of the liquor in the regulator vessel VI and the lower section of the vessel I. The stem-bearing XXIX is held in place in a recess between the flanges of the regulator-chamber VI and the valve VII. The valve-stem XXVII is held to its seat by the spiral spring XXVIII, as well as by the pressure of the liquor in the regulator-chamber VI. The spring retains the valve in position should the pressure in the regulator-chamber be removed.

XXXIII is an opening in the top of the vessel I, through which the anhydrous gas passes from it.

In practice the cold strong liquor is introduced into the space between the walls of the upper section of the vessel I and the standpipe II through the inlet-pipe XV, where it comes in contact with the heated exhaustedliquor coil V and rises to the overflow-elbows XII, through which it passes into the upper of the series of rectifying-pans III. It descends through the perforations in the bottoms of the rectifying-pans III and IV and falls into the heated liquor in the lower part of the vessel I. The strong liquor is heated by the steam-pipe XIX, into which the steam enters at XVIII and from which it passes through the outlet XXII into the exhaust-pipe XX. The aqueous and anhydrous ammonia gases rise from the heated liquor and mingle in their ascent with the descending cooler The gases impart their heat to the cooler liquor, extracting anhydrous gas from it, and the cooler liquor in turn condenses the aqueous gas, which falls into the heated liquor below, while the nearly pure anhydrous gas rises and passes out of the generator at the opening XXXIII.

The heated liquor is maintained at a certain level in the lower section of the vessel I by means of the regulator vessel VI and valve VII. The heated liquor and gases pass freely through the pipes IX and valves VIII from the lower section of the vessel I into the liquorregulator vessel VI and maintain the same level in each. A fall of liquor in the lower section of the vessel I causes the floating ball XXIII to fall with the liquor in the regulator- .vessel VI, which closes the ports in the valve VII by turning the valve-stem XXVII and prevents the passage of liquor through the pipe XI until the normal level of the liquor is reached in the lower section of the vessel I, when the floating ball is raised and the ports in the valve VII are opened sufficiently wide to allow the liquor to maintain its normal level. Should the liquor rise above the normal level, the ball rises and opens the ports to allow a more rapid passage of the liquor through the valve VII. The heated liquor, when exhausted, is forced from the lower section of the vessel I by the pressure of the gases through the valve XXI, into the lower part of the pipe XI, through the ports of the valve VII, and into the upper part of the pipe XI, from which it passes into the coil of pipe V and away from the generator through the pipe XXXII. The coil of pipe V is heated by the exhausted liquor within it, which in turn heats the cold strong liquor as it enters the vessel 1 through the inlet XV and comes in contact with the coil of pipe V.

lVhen it is necessary, for adjustment or repairs, to detach the regulator vessel from the generator or to open the heads XXIV and XXV, the valves VIII, VIII, and XXI are closed, so as to prevent the entrance of the liquor into the pipe XI or into the regulator vessel VI.

Among the advantages of our invention are the manufacture of pure anhydrous ammonia gas by introducing cold strong liquor into the upper section of the generator, where it first receives heat from the coil of pipe V, containing the heated exhausted liquor, and is then mingled in the stand-pipe and pans with the heated gases arising from the lower section of the generator, which drives off part of it as gas and raises its temperature, thus saving fuel. The mingling of the cold strong liquor with the gases in the pans of the standpipe condenses the aqueous gas and allows the pure anhydrous gas to rise to the upper section of the generator. The regulation of the height of the liquor keeps the steam-pipe XIX constantly submerged in the heated liquor and prolongs its duration.

Having fully described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by LettersPatent, is-- 1. In an ammonia-gas generator the combination of a vessel, a stand-pipe in the upper part or section thereof a series of rectifyingpans within said stand-pipe, an exhaustedliquor coil around said stand-pipe, a steampipe in the lower part or section of said vessel, an automatic regulator connected with the lower section or part of said vessel, and a valve applied to said regulator and having pipe connection with said coil in the upper section of said vessel and with the lower section or part of said vessel, substantially as set forth.

2. In an ammonia-gas generator, the combination of a vessel, astand-pipe in the upper part or section thereof, a series of rectifying- IIO pans therein, an exhausted-liquor coil around said stand-pipe, and the overflow elbow passages or pipes between the top of said standpipe and the uppermost pan, substantially as set forth. 4

3. In an ammonia-gas generator the com bination of a vessel, a stand-pipe in the upper section thereof, a series of rectifying-pans in said stand pipe, an exhausted -liquor coil around said stand-pipe, and the steam-pipe coil or pipe in the lower section or part of said vessel for heating liquor in said lower section of said vessel, substantially as set forth.

4. In an ammonia-gas generator, the combination of a vessel, the stand-pipe in the upper section or part thereof, the exhausted-liquor coil around said stand-pipe, and the series of rectifying-pans having perforated bottoms, to cause the descending strong liquor to finely divide and fall rapidly whereby a large percentage of anhydrous gas is released by the heat supplied to the pans by ascending gases substantially as set forth.

5. In an ammonia-gas generator, the combination of a vessel, a stand-pipe in the upper section or part thereof, a series of rectifyingpans in said stand-pipe and an exhausted-liquor coil around said stand-pipe and a steam or heating coil in the lower section or part of said vessel, said heated lower section having pipe connection with the upper section of said vesse1,to heat the liquor therein, substantially as set forth.

6. In an ammonia-gas generator, the combination of a vessel, a stand-pipe therein, a series of rectifying-pans in said stand-pipe, an exhausted-liquor coil around said standpipe, a steam-heating pipe in the lower section of said vessel and an automatic regulator comprising a chamber connected to said lower section of said vessel and containing a float connected by a stem to a valve arranged in a separate chamber, connecting with the aforesaid chamber and with said lower section of said vessel and with said exhausted-liquor coil, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

' L. HENRY BACHMANN. OSCAR R. SULZER. \Vitnesses:

F. W. SULZER, Enw. W. NoLTE. 

